Hanagan draws a blank as Hughes gains ground
Paul Hanagan was out of luck on his first ride of the day at Southwell in what could be a crucial eight hours in deciding who is crowned champion jockey.
Hanagan, who has led since the first day of the season, has 11 booked rides while his rival Richard Hughes, who was originally due to sit today out having reached his quota of meetings, has now picked up six mounts at Wolverhampton this evening.
Only two winners currently separate the pair, with Hanagan on 188 to Hughes on 166 after both bagged a couple of winners on Thursday.
Riding Suddenly Susan in the I'm A Goth Nursery for Jeremy Glover, Hanagan broke well but ended up beaten a fair way in fourth behind Godolphin's Makeynn (13-8 favourite).
Hanagan went closer in the EBF Bet Breeders' Cup - Betdaq Maiden when riding Lexington Bay for his boss Richard Fahey but had to settle for second behind red-hot favourite Encore Une Annee (8-15).
The winner was eased down but still won by three and three-quarter lengths.
Fahey and Hanagan struck in the next, however, when Sloop Johnb (6-1) prevailed in a blanket finish to the Bet Asian Handicaps - Betdaq Handicap.
Always prominent, the four-year-old looked like being swamped in the closing stages as first Colorus and then Lost In Paris challenged on either side of him.
But seen as his strongest, Hanagan managed to hold on at the line to win by a head from Lost In Paris and score a valuable victory to take his advantage over Hughes to three.
The gap was then extended to four when Diggeratt (3-1) ground out a valuable success in the Bet Multiples - Betdaq Claiming Stakes.
Hanagan had the Fahey-trained four-year-old close up throughout and turning into the straight the Malton-based jockey was even afforded the luxury of taking a pull.
Odds-on favourite Lucky Punt rallied gamely to his credit but Diggeratt eventually ground him down and powered clear to win by two lengths.
Hanagan was on the well-backed Mick Easterby favourite We'll Deal Again in the Breeders' Cup Live Only On ATR Maiden Stakes but it was Tim Easterby's Senate Majority (15-2) who prevailed.
We'll Deal Again helped force the pace but David Alan always looked to be going better on the winner and lost second close home to Best Known Secret.
The writing was on the wall early for Hanagan's final mount at Southwell of the season, Fitz Flyer.
Bryan Smart's charge appeared to stumble coming out of the stalls in the attheraces.com/breederscup Conditions Stakes whereas the 8-15 favourite Noble Storm pinged the gate.
Fitz Flyer never recovered from his tardy start while Noble Storm never saw another rival.
Hughes will join Hanagan in action at Wolverhampton this evening.
Hughes was over the moon that Hanagan's haul this afternoon ended at two winners, and said: "I'm grand, not a bother. I'm still able to win it and I'm just glad that he didn't ride three winners - two I can deal with!"
Hanagan, on the other hand, was not surprisingly happy with how things went at Southwell.
"This afternoon went good and I've just got to try and keep going and keep my head down," he said.
The two jockeys were both out of luck in the wolverhampton-racecourse.co.uk Nursery as 13-2 chance Pitkin took top honours.
Hanagan never threatened to land a blow on Style And Panache, while Hughes could only finish third on board Johnny Hancocks.
Hughes pulled back the deficit to just three winners as he guided Towy Boy to success in the Breeders' Cup Live Only On ATR Handicap.
Hanagan looked to be going the better of the pair turning for home as his mount Ability N Delivery cruised up to challenge for the lead.
But Hughes refused to panic in behind and as the first couple began to tire, Towy Boy (7-2 favourite) came through smoothly to score decisively by a length.
Hanagan's mount eventually finished out of the frame.
Hanagan now sits on 190 winners for the season, with Hughes on 187.
On returning to the winner's enclosure, Hughes said: "That was the start of it I hope!"
Winning trainer Ian Wood added: "He was on his head turning in but Richard got him back on the bridle and he won comfortably.
"He doesn't like the stick and Richard gave him a peach of a ride. That's what you get when you use a good horseman.
"The horse loves it around here and we use Richard when we can. I've used him a couple of times and I used to train Jonny Ebeneezer, who I also broke, and Richard won a big race on him at Epsom."
Hanagan quickly restored his four-winner advantage as he found the target on Mark Johnston's Home Office in the Hotel & Conferencing At Wolverhampton Maiden Stakes.
The 5-2 chance was always close to the pace and travelled ominously well rounding the turn for home.
Once Hanagan pushed the button, his mount quickly accelerated and although Motivado managed to keep tabs on him, Home Office had half a length in hand passing the post.
Hughes was unplaced on Valley Tiger.
Johnston's representative Neil Hodgson said: "That was straightforward for him and it's a nice one for Paul."
Hughes is refusing to go down without a fight, however, and quickly fought back with a fine ride on Pipers Song (3-1) in the attheraces.com/breederscup Handicap.
Once again Hanagan was the first to commit for home on Kenton Street but his effort was short lived and Paul Howling's Pipers Piping stayed on best on the rail to deny favourite Collect Art by three-quarters of a length.
